If Su Tian were to livestream without a mask now, her daily Affection Value would definitely be higher. However, removing the mask required an opportunity—a chance to elevate her to the next level. Previously, during her livestreams, people would often challenge her to PK battles every day, but since they weren’t mandatory, Su Tian simply ignored them all.
Perhaps the next time someone challenged her to a PK would be the opportunity she needed to rise to the next level.
After several days of livestreaming, she still hadn’t reached the Achievement of 1 million Affection Value. Even on days when her viewership peaked at ten or twenty thousand, the Affection Value she received wasn’t substantial.
Over the past few days, her livestreaming income totaled 8,000 yuan, but she spent 10,000 yuan on boosting her popularity. Another day of negative income.
Su Tian’s follower count had now reached 400,000. It was hard to say how long it would take to break the 1 million mark. There was no point in rushing—she would take it slow.
Seeing how late it was, she decided to wash up and sleep. There was no livestream scheduled for tomorrow, so she could sleep in.
After resting for a few days, Affection Value continued to trickle in daily. As long as someone watched the videos she posted, there would be people who liked them, and Affection Value would accumulate.
Over these few days, Su Tian had saved up another 300,000 Affection Value. After maxing out her Hair Quality and Poise, she left the remaining Affection Value untouched.
Hair Quality: 100/100
Poise: 100/100
Affection Value: 260,000
Perhaps the transformation was nearly complete, as no obvious changes were visible anymore.
“System, now that all my stats are at 100, does that mean I’m universally adored, irresistible even to flowers, and loved by every living being?”
The System looked at Su Tian with an expression that said, “Are you dreaming?” “Host, having 100% in all stats only makes you perfect—it doesn’t change your species. Humans love money, dogs love bones, mosquitoes love blood. Everyone has different preferences. Even with all your stats maxed out, it’s impossible for everyone to like you.”
“But didn’t you say that after the transformation, I’d be a heartthrob?”
“Then let me put it this way: before the transformation, maybe only one or two people liked you. After starting the transformation, that number increased to a hundred. As the transformation took effect, the number grew to ten thousand, then a hundred thousand, a million, ten million, and even a hundred million. But it’s not absolute, because no one can make everyone like them 100%. Understand?”
“The transformation is only meant to make you, the Host, perfect and more likable.”
This wasn’t quite what Su Tian had imagined.
“Is this what you call a heartthrob?”
The System replied matter-of-factly, “Why wouldn’t it be? Even if it doesn’t make 100% of people like you, at least 80% will. How is that not a heartthrob?”
Su Tian thought it over carefully and realized there was some truth to it.
Over the past few days, Su Tian had learned a few more songs and tried learning a different style of dance. Unfortunately, she still couldn’t get the hang of it. Every time she tried to learn dancing, her limbs seemed to have a grudge against her—she couldn’t help but hit herself a few times or trip over her own feet to vent her frustration.
After another practice session filled with self-inflicted hits, Su Tian collapsed on the floor, exhausted.
The System couldn’t help but chuckle softly as it looked at the faint bruise on the corner of Su Tian’s mouth from her own hits. “Host, I never knew you hated yourself this much?”
Unsurprisingly, the System’s comment earned it a sharp glare from Su Tian.
“Let’s not force ourselves to do what we can’t, okay?”
“If you keep singing, your fan growth will be very slow.”
“Host can try the gacha, you know?”
“Gacha?”
“Yes, the beginner prize pool costs 100,000 Affection Value per draw. Did you not pay attention?”
“You said it yourself—100,000 per draw. How could I have had that much Affection Value back then?”
“So, do you want to draw now?”
“Yes, give me two draws.”
Since the data was already maxed out, there was no point in hoarding Affection Value. Using it for gacha was the best option.
“Understood, Host.”
In a dazzling, multicolored prize pool, countless cards spun rapidly around a purple glowing orb. Suddenly, two cards flew out from among the countless swirling ones.
“Congratulations, Host! You’ve obtained one Beginner Dance Master Card and one Beginner Pastry Master Card.”
Looking at the Beginner Dance Master Card, Su Tian had reason to suspect.
“System, are you controlling the gacha?”
“Not at all. But congratulations, Host—you won’t have to beat yourself up anymore. Having a masochistic tendency isn’t good, you know.”
Su Tian had no strength to argue.
“If 100,000 is for the beginner prize pool, how much Affection Value is needed for the mid-level one?”
“Host, the Mid-Level Gacha requires 1,000,000 Affection Value per draw.”
Damn, she couldn’t afford that.
“What’s the difference between beginner and mid-level?”
“The Beginner Dance Master Card allows the Host to quickly learn the basics of various dances. You’ll grasp the form of any dance instantly, but to dance with depth or surpass it, you’ll need higher-level cards or upgrades.”
“The Beginner Pastry Master Card works similarly. You’ll master the basics of any pastry right away, but the taste will be ordinary. To achieve better or more sophisticated flavors, you’ll need higher-level cards or upgrades.”
“As for mid-level cards, they’re simply upgrades from the beginner ones. Beginner cards handle the form, mid-level cards handle the flavor—it’s that simple.”
Su Tian looked at the two cards that appeared before her, each depicting a dancing figure and a cake figure, respectively. After using the cards, she felt nothing at all and had no idea if they worked. She’d have to test them out when she had time.
After working hard for so many days, it was time to treat herself again.
Even though she didn’t have much money left, she really felt it was necessary to reward herself. What should she do?
No time like the present. Su Tian changed into casual clothes, put on a mask, and headed out.
It was early July, and the scorching summer had just begun. At noon, the sun hung high in the sky like a red-hot copper nail, pinning the heavens into a blinding blue.
The air shimmered faintly in the heat, and the distant asphalt road steamed with transparent waves of heat, like a restless river. Occasionally, a breeze swept by, but it carried the baked dryness from the ground, failing to cool anything. Instead, it layered the heat onto people’s bodies, sticky like oil-soaked silk.
The leaves on the roadside trees drooped limply, their edges curled and yellowed. The cicadas’ cries tore through the silence with desperate intensity, intermittent like a metal wire about to melt.
Pedestrians hurried along under umbrellas, their shadows shrinking briefly at their feet. Sweat trickled from their temples, leaving dark stains on their necks. The freezer outside the convenience store hummed, condensation droplets rolling down the glass, evaporating before they could even reach the ground.
The summer world was like a stern adult, punishing every disobedient child who tried to sneak out of the house to play.
While waiting for the bus, Su Tian’s clothes were already slightly damp. If she hadn’t been cooped up at home for several days in such hot weather, she really wouldn’t have wanted to go out.
Su Tian went to the newly opened mall nearby again. Last time, she treated herself here. The main reason was that it was newly opened, so the decor was naturally fresh and modern. As for the taste of the restaurants, the one she tried last time was quite good. She wondered how another restaurant would compare?
Upon arriving at the mall, Su Tian headed straight to the top floor, the food court. This time, she tried a different restaurant. Last time, she ate at a Sichuan restaurant; this time, it was a Cantonese restaurant.
Different cuisines, different ways to treat herself.
The Cantonese restaurant was decorated more meticulously than the Sichuan one, incorporating many scenic elements from the cuisine’s place of origin. The ambiance was quite elegant.
Su Tian enjoyed her meal this time, but she wasn’t happy when it came time to pay the bill. This meal cost even more than the last one—over five hundred, compared to just over three hundred last time, an increase of more than a hundred.
Looking at her even emptier wallet, Su Tian sighed. When would she ever have a full wallet and no longer worry about how much she spent?
“Host, you’ll earn it back.”
“Having no money makes me feel insecure.” She feared being without money, without income. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have endured such exploitation from her boss without resigning.
“Host, if you want money, it’s not that hard. Find someone with Purple Luck and raise their Affection Value. One Achievement Gift Pack can elevate you to a whole new level.”
“Easier said than done. Where am I supposed to find someone with Purple Luck?”
“Host, isn’t there one right behind you?”
Su Tian turned around and met a pair of eyes that seemed capable of captivating one’s soul.
“You’re in the way.” The words were devoid of any emotion, as if Su Tian were nothing more than air in front of him.
Su Tian was momentarily stunned before stepping aside.
Sikong Ji walked past her. Watching his retreating figure, Su Tian thought, someone so aloof and dismissive of others—how could she possibly raise his Affection Value to 40? It seemed like wishful thinking.
But how would she know it was impossible without trying?
Assistant Li glanced back at the girl behind him, then looked at the CEO walking ahead. He couldn’t understand—wasn’t the path wide enough?